Bottle-labeling machine.



F. BECKER.

BOTTLE LABELING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED JULY 11. 1913.

1 165 9350 Patentw Dec. 28, 1915.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Wan Lewes )0 F. BECKER.

BOTTLE LABELING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY H, 1913.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

F. BECKER.

BOTTLE LABELING MACHINE.

APPLICATION HLED IULY 11. 1913.-

1 165 936, Patent-ed me. 28, 1915.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

F. BECKER.

BOTTLE LABELING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED JULY I1. I913.

maww Patented D60.28,1915.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

Wbfwwoeo: I

F. BECKER.

BOTTLE LABELING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 11, 1913.

Llfififi fin Patented Dec. 28, 1915.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

%i meow/o FBECKER.

some LABELING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY II, 1913. 1 11. 36, Patented Dec. 28, 1915.

8 SHEETSSHEET B.

IIIIIII I F. BECKER.

BOTTLE LABELING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED lULY H, 1913.

1 16mm Patented. 1m. 28, 1915.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 7- 3%) att cue F. BECKER.

BOTTLE LABELING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED JUL\Y H, 1913.

L1659$fi Patented Dec. 28,1915.

8 SHEETSSHEET 8.

ss PATENT @FFIKOE.

FRITZ BECKER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO NATIONAL LABELING MACHINE I 00., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

BOTTLE-LABELING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 2%, 191.5.

them to the bottle on the rest, a paste-roller passing over the faces of the pickers for supplying paste from a paste-receptacle to the same, a presser-arm by which the labels are held on the bottle after they are transmitted by the pickers to the body and'neck of the bottle, and wipers by which the gummed ends of the labels are applied to the bottle.

The improvements in bottle-labeling machines forming the subject-matter of this application relate mainly to the label-receptacles, to which a vertically-reciprocating motion is imparted; to the pickers, to which a reciprocating motion in a downwardlyinclined direction is imparted; means for passing the paste-roller over the faces of the pickers while the label-receptacles are held in raised position, means permitting an accommodating movement of the paste-roller so as to transfer the paste to the pickers even if the latter be not in properly adjusted position, means for holding the labelreceptacles in raised position for permitting successive passages of the paste-roller over the picker-faces preparatory to starting the machine, and means for adjusting the automatic downward feed of the followers in the label-receptacles. The ordinary presserarm and wipers used in labeling machines of this type are employed, but as they are of the exact construction of the presser-arm and wipers of other labeling machines in general use, they are omitted, for the sake of clearness, from thedrawings, together with their motion-transmitting mechanisms, so that the new features of construction can be more clearly brought out.

ing machine embodying the invention, showmg the paste-roller in forward position and the label-receptacles in raised position for permltting the repeated forward and backward motion of the paste-roller over the pickers, Fig. 2 represents a side-elevation of my improved bottle-labeling machine, taken from the left-hand side, Fig. 3 is a side-elevation of the same, taken from the right-hand side, Fig. 4 is a vertical longitudlnal section on the center-line of the machine, showing the pickers in the act of taking up labels from the label-receptacles, Fig. 5 is a plan-view of the machine, Fig. 6 1s a horizontal section on line 66, Figs. 2 and 3, Fig. 7 is a detail top-view of the pickers, Fig. 8 is a detail sectional side-elevation of the label-receptacles and the operating mechanism of the same on line 88, Fig. 9, drawn on a larger scale than the preceding figures, Fig. 9 is a sectional rear-elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 8, Figs. 10 and 11 are details showing the difierent positions of the cams for actuating the pickers, pasteroller and label-receptacles, Figs. 12 and '13 are details of the paste-roller and means for supplying paste to the same, Figs. 14 and 15 are respectively a detail side-view and a vertical transverse section on line 1515, Fig. 14, of the paste-roller and its operating mechanism, Fig. 16 is a detail side-view partly in section of the means for disconnecting the label-receptacles from their operating mechanism, so that they remain in raised position for permitting the gumming of the picker-faces, and Fig. 17 is a detail side-view partly in section of the automatic feed-mechanism for the followers of the label-receptacles.

Smiliar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the different figures of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, the supporting frame f of the machine consists of upright, laterally-braced, side-standards The standards are connected by a transverse front-plate f to which a bracket-arm f is attached, which supports at its upper end the vertically-adjustable shank b of the stationary bottle-rest b. The shank b is clamped to the bracket-arm f by a fastening screw 5 so as to permit adjustment of the bottle-rest higher or lower according to the size of the bottles to be labeled. When the bottle-rest is once adjusted for a certain size of bottles, it remains stationary in this position during labeling. In the frame are arranged the bearings for the driving shaft 8, to which rotary motion is imparted by means of a driving pulley and belt from an overhead shaft in the usual manner. On the shaft 8 are located the different cams by which motion is transmitted to the different operative parts of the labeling machine, the cams and transmitting mechanism for operating the presser-arm and wipers being omitted from the drawings, and only the cams by which motion is transmitted to the labelreceptacles, paste-roller and pickers being shown.

The labelreceptacles d, al are supported above the bottle-rest at the upper part of the I rods (Z of the same.

supporting frame f on a transverse frame (13 The frame (Z is supported on upright rods d", which are attached to a transverse brace f the frame (Z being provided at its upper and lower corners with any suitable keepers. On the upright rods d" are placed near the lower keepers (Z fixed collars d between which and the upper keepers (Z are inter posed helical springs (Z which exert a lifting action on the transverse label-receptacle supporting-frame d and holds the frame and the label-receptacles in raised position.

The label-receptacles (Z, al are capable of adjustment on horizontal parallel rods d which are connected at the front and rear ends by transverse bars d, the rear-bar being provided with angular perforated lugs 12 which are supported on stationary upright pins 03 supported in sockets of the transverse frame (5 as shown in Fig. 9. The transverse rear-bar (Z is also provided with perforated lugs d at its lower edge in vertical line with the lugs 01 which lugs (Z rest on the lower bar of the frame the lugs d and d supporting the label-receptacles in a very reliable manner on the parallel The label-receptacle 03 contains the body-labels a and the labelreceptacle (1 the neck-labels a the receptacle for the body-labels being of larger size than the receptacle for the neck-labels. They are provided with side and end-fingers (Z which hold by their inwardly-bent lower ends the superposed pile of labels. The label-holdingside-fingers d are attached to transverse bars (Z which are clamped to the rods d and capable of adjustment thereon, While the end-fingers are applied to short brackets on one of the intermediate bars (i shown in Fig. 5. By means of the transverse bars d the side and end-fingers of the label-receptacle can be adjusted to any size and shape of labels, and the label-receptacles themselves to any required position of labels on the bottle 9 to be labeled.

The labels in the receptacles d, d are fed eXtending arm a the rear or inner end of which is supported in a central keeper 6 at the upper end of the supporting frame 03 and securely held in position by means of a clamping screw 6. The supporting plates 6 of the follower-rods e and e are shiftable on the slotted supporting arm a so that the followers can be adjusted to their proper position in the label-receptacles for permitting their free motion in the label-receptacles by gravity. Each follower-rod isengaged by a pivoted. and spring-actuated pawl 6 the point of which engages the inclined ribs or teeth of the follower-rods and permits the lowering of the same by gravity tooth for tooth so as to feed the lowermost label of each pile in the label-receptacles to the pickers. \Vhen it is desired to refill the label-receptacles, the pawl is released by hand and the follower-rod taken hold of by a button 6 at its upper end, and the follower is lifted bodily out of the label-receptacle and the latter refilled with a new pile of labels, after which the follower is replaced in position on the pile in the label-receptacle, the labels being supplied continuously to the pickers during the working of the machine by the weight of the follower and followerrod on the same.

The top and bottom portions of the frame (Pare connected by an intermediate rib (Z which is provided with a horizontal keeper d". In this keeper is guided a slide-block n which can be pushed inwardly into the keeper at" so as to clear the actuating toe of the reciprocating mechanism of the labelreceptacles. The inward and outward motion of the slide-block n is imparted by an angular hand-lever n which is fulcrumed to a rearwardly-extending lug n on the middle portion at of the frame (l as shown in Figs. 5, 8 and 9. The downwardly-bent arm ofthe hand-lever n is forked at its lower end and engages a pin n on the side of the slideblock n, while the outward motion of the same is arrested by a nose '1), on thehorizontal portion of the hand-lever n abutting on the upper end of the frame (1 Vertically reciprocating motion is imparted to the label-receptacles from a cam 0 on the driving shaft 8 and intermediate mechanism so as to impart a downward motion to the supporting frame (Z against the tension of the helical springs (Z interposed between the upper cross-bar of the frame (Z and the collars d on the upright rods 0?. The label-receptacles are held in raised position by the action of the helical springs (Z on the transverse supporting frame of the same and lowered by the transmitting mechanism operated at the proper time by the cam 0. This transmitting mechanism consists of an oscillating lever 0 which is pivoted at its rear-end to the frame f and provided with an anti-friction-roller V and lifted by a projection 0 on the cam c. The opposite end of the lever c is connected by a U-shaped pivot-link 0 with the lower end of an upwardly-extending spring-cushioned connecting-rod 0 the upper end being connected by a U-shaped pivot-link 0 with a fulcrumed lever 0 supported on the upper portion of the frame The opposite end of the lever 0 is formed in the nature of a toe 0 which serves to engage the slideblock 71. when the same is drawn out into the path of the toe, and which clears the slideblock when the latter is pushed in out of its path. When the toe engages the slide-block, the label-receptacles are lowered so that the lowermost labels of the same form contact with the faces of the pickers, while on the release of the slide-block the label-receptacles are instantly lifted again by their springs (Z into their raised position. The vertically-reciprocating motion imparted to the label-receptacles is suflicient to permit the horizontally-reciprocating paste-roller i to pass over the pickers p in forward direction and in backward direction below the label-receptacles d, d for transmitting the paste to the faces of the pickers. The pasteroller z is actuated by a cam 50 on the driving shaft 8, and intermediate mechanism hereinafter described.

It is necessary to clean the pickers of any dry paste adhering thereto before starting the machine for a days work, also to supply a sufficient quantity of paste to the pickers before labels are taken up from the labelreceptacles and transferred to the bottle, for which purpose the mechanism by which the label-receptacles are held in 'raised position for permitting the passage of the pasteroller over the pickers is provided. This mechanism comprises the hand'lever heretofore described which enables the slide-block n to be pushed inwardly so as to clear the toe 0 of the motion-transmitting mechanism of the label-receptacles, thereby permitting theirsprings (Z to hold the latter in raised position untilthe paste-roller i has passed several times over the picker-faces and has supplied the same with a sufficient coating of paste for permitting the proper starting and operation of the labeling machine. When this is accomplished the handle is lowered' into normal horizontal position, whereby the slide-block n is moved in outward position under the toe c for actuation by the same and for transmitting the required reciprocating motion to the labelreceptacles.

The pickers .are arranged horizontally and receive a downwardly and backwardly reciprocating motion from the label-receptacles to the bottle-rest Z). The pickers p are located at the upper. ends of inclined arms 79 of a transverse frame 2 which is guided in inclined ways 19 attached to the side-standards of the machine. The inclined picker guide-frame p is provided with a backwardly-extending projection p to which is pivoted a U-shaped pivot-link 12 the lower end of which is connected by a rod 7) with an obtusely-angled lever p, which is pivoted at its rear-end to the frame of the machine. The lever 79 is provided with an antifriction-roller p that moves in contact with the cam 00, by which reciprocating motion is imparted to the pickers at an angle of inclination so as to bring the labels from the label-receptacles, after they are taken up by the pickers, down to the bodyand neck of the bottle. To the lever 39 is pivoted near its antifriction-wheel 79 a rod 79 which is guided in an upwardly-extending U- shaped frame p that is attached by lateral arms 79 to the side-standards of the frame 7. The rod 19* is provided with a collar p between which and the upper end of the frame 7) is interposed a helical spring 79 which tends to force the rod p, and thereby the lever 19, in downward direction so as to hold the roller p in contact with the perimeter of the cam 00. The pickers are shown in detail in Fig. 7 and are provided with raised faces having slots a, for permitting the passage of the rounded-0E lower ends of the label-holding fingers d of the labelreceptacles through the same, so that the raised faces can take up the gummed ends of the labels and remove the lowermost labels with the downward motion of the pickers from the label-receptacles, and transfer the labels respectively to the body and neck of the bottle. As soon as the labels are transferred to the bottle, the. presserarm not shown) is moved downward into contact with the middle portions of the labels for retaining the same on the bottle, while the pickers are returned into upward position for being gummed again by the return-motion of the paste-roller. The wipers (not shown) are then passed over the gummed ends of the labels and apply them to the bottle in the usual manner.

The paste-roller i and its motion-transmitting mechanism is shown in Figs. 1, 5 and 12, Figs. 1 and 5 showing the pasteroller in its forward position, and Fig. 12 showing it in its rearward or returned position. The motion-transmitting mechanism consists of a lever g pivoted at its rear-end to the frame f and provided with an antifriction-roller 3 that is held in contact with a cam 3 on the driving shaft 8 by a helical spring 1 To the forward end of the lever g is pivoted a U'shaped pivot-link g which is connected by a short rod y with the lower arm of a fulcrumed elbow-lever y, the upper arm of which is connected by a rod y with reciprocating keepers y that are guided in rails 3 of parallel bracket-shaped guide-frames 3 which are attached to the upper portion of the side-standards of the frame. From the keepers 3 are suspended spring-actuated hangers 3 which are pivoted to the keepers y and which permit the paste-roller to yield sufiiciently when passing on or off the raised faces of the pickers, as shown in Fig. 14. The shaft 9 of the paste-roller i is supported in bearings of the hangers y and provided with a pinion g which is placed in mesh with a gear-wheel 3 on the shaft of the paste supply-roller i, said shaft being supported in suitable bearings. The paste supply-roller areceives its paste-supply from a paste-fountain 2' which is supported on a rimmed platform 71 supported on the side-standards of the frame f, said platform serving at the same time as a guard for preventing any of the paste from being spilt over the motiontransmitting parts below. The yielding arrangement of the paste-roller permits ,it to pass readily over the raised faces of the pickers, and permits likewise a yielding contact of the paste-roller with the paste supply-roller located in the paste-fountain, so as to prevent any abrupt and violent contact with the same. It also permits the pasteroller to yield when the same arrives at the front-end of its motion, beyond the pickers, and to pass over the pickers even if they should not be accurately adjusted in the same plane with each other, so that a uniform layer of paste is always supplied to the pickers.

The sprocket-chain g by which rotary motion is transmitted to the paste supplyroller 2' is guided over two rollers r that are supported at the upper rear-part of the main-frame f, both guide-rollers being supported on a hand-lever T which is pivoted at its lower end to the side-standards ofthe frame' The hand-lever r is provided with a slotted arc-shaped portion r that is attached by a clamping screw 1* to a lug r of the supporting frame. By moving the hand-lever. the rollers are brought inwardly or outwardly as desired, thus producing the .proper tension of the sprocketchain and the labels to the bottle.

gumming of the pickers has beenv accomplished, the slide-block it operated by the hand-lever n is moved outwardly again so as to permit the lowering of the label-receptacles by the operating mechanism described, into contact with the pickers. The labels are taken by the pickers, are carried by the latter in downward direction and transferred to the bottle, after which they are applied by the presser-arm and wipers to the bottle in the usual manner.

The label-receptacles are supported not vertically above the bottle-rest, but somewhat in front of the same, which position has the advantage that convenient access is given to the label-receptacles and their followers and follower-rods as they are fully within sight and reach, while in most labeling machines heretofore in use the label receptacles are located vertically above the bottle-rest. The arrangement described permits the easy insertion of new labels when the supply is exhausted.

The characteristic features of the improved bottle-labeling machine are the vertically-reciprocating motion imparted to the label-receptacles and the reciprocating motion imparted to the pickers at an angle of inclination for transferring the labels to the bottle, also the arrangement for retaining thelabel-receptacles in raised position for permitting the proper leaning and gum ming of the pickers.

I claim:

1. In a bottle-labeling machine, the combination with reciprocating pickers having raised faces, of a stationary paste fountain, a paste supply roller in said paste fountain, a paste-roller, means imparting horizontally reciprocating motion to the paste-roller, whereby it passes over said raised faces of said pickers, and spring means for yieldingly maintaining said paste-roller in contact with said pickers.

2. In a bottle-labeling machine, the combination, with vertically-reciprocating labelreceptacles and means for imparting vertically-reciprocating motion to the same, of a paste-fountain, a paste-roller, means for imparting horizontally-reciprocating motion to the same, pickers, and means for impartmg reciprocating motion in an inclined direction to said pickers for transmitting 3. In a bottle-labeling machine, the combination of horizontal pickers, an inclined frame for supporting the pickers, inclined guideways for guiding the picker-frame, and means for imparting reciprocating motion to the picker supporting-frame and pickers.

4. In a bottle-labeling machine, the combination, with pickers, of a horizontallyreciprocating paste-roller, means including a guide-frame for guiding said paste-roller,

I and means between the guide-frame of the paste-roller and the shaft of the same for equalizing the pressure on the pickers.

5. In a bottle-labeling machine, the combination with a bottle-rest, vertically-movable label-receptacles, of pickers movable at an angle of inclination from lowermost position of the receptacles to said bottle-rest.

6. In a bottle-labeling machine, the combination, with a bottle-rest, of label-receptaoles located above and forward thereof, and horizontal pickers, means reciprocating the same at an angle of inclination between the lowerface of the label receptacles and said bottle-rest.

7. In a bottle-labeling machine, the combination, with a vertically-adjustable bottlerest, and vertically reciprocating label-receptacles located above and forward of said bottle-rest, of pickers, means for reciprocating the same at an angle of inclination between the label-receptacles and the bottlerest, and adjusting means to vary the upper and lower positions of said pickers.

8. In a bottle-labeling machine, the combination, with a horizontally-reciprocating paste-roller, of label-receptacles, a springsupported vertically-movable frame carrying said label-receptacles normally out of the path of said paste-roller, pickers below the path of the paste-roller, motion-transmitting mechanism for lowering the labelreceptacles to picker position, and a manually-controlled coupling between said springsupported frame and said mechanism.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I have signed my name in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRITZ BECKER.

Witnesses:

PAUL GoEPEL, JOHN MURTAGH. 

